Archer cradled the tired Antonia gently in his arms, with Ari walking closely beside him, as they traversed the towering ramparts that sealed off the Draconian quarter of Orienta. The walls stretched across a vast mountain pass, flanked by riversides and crossings that extended for miles, standing as a barrier against the world beyond.
’’The lands that we’ve conquered are already thriving thanks to the governnt workers flooding the port cities,’’ the Elental woman revealed. ’’I heard the poor are praising you in the streets while your soldiers feed them.’’
’’Naless kingdoms and empires trode on them and forgot they existed, but not ,’’ Archer said, a proud smile crossing his face. ’’We will lift everyone until Orienta worships and our empire. I’ll give them so much freedom they’d never want to go back to the way things were.’’
Ari’s violet eyes shimred with delight at his words. ’’I’m so glad you feel this way,’’ she said warmly. ’’Seeing you smile lights up my heart. It’s refreshing compared to the wild young man I t all those years ago, untad and driven by your anger.’’
Archer let out a chuckle, nodding in agreent. ’’Oh, you’re right gorgeous,’’ he replied. ’’Back then, I was a reckless young dragon, giving in to every instinct. But now? I’ve grown, matured. I’ve learned to master my emotions and carry myself with a bit more wisdom.’’
Following that, the two of them stopped walking as Antonia squird in his arms, causing him to prop the little girl on his shoulders. She grabbed a handful of his hair, giggling as she was up high. When Ari saw this, she couldn’t help but fuss over the baby, who seed not to care.
The older woman giggled. ’’You two are terrors. She’s only a few weeks old, and you treat her just like Freya and the others.’’
’’Why would I treat any of them differently, Ari?’’ he questioned. ’’My parents preferred my other siblings over , well, in this world, not Earth, but the point still stands.’’
Monts later, Antonia rubbed her snotty nose on his head, making sure she wiped everything on his snow white hair before giggling. He stopped and glanced around at the smiling girl. ’’Do you mind, little miss? Now I have boogers all over .’’
Archer scooped up Antonia, gently grabbing her baby gown, and hoisted the white-haired little demon until their eyes t. The little girl’s gaze sparkled, her giggles bubbling out like a tiny fountain of joy, coaxing a wide, adoring grin onto his face. ’’Oh, you think you can stir up mischief out here on the frontline, my little troublemaker?’’ he teased, his hand inched toward her chubby belly.
Antonia’s eyes widened, catching his sneaky move, and she squird with a peal of laughter, kicking her tiny legs in a mock attempt to escape. But it was too late! His hand darted forward, tickling her belly with gentle fingers. She curled up, her cackles ringing out like tiny bells, filling the air with the sweetest baby giggles as she wriggled in delight.
The tickling lasted only a few gleeful seconds before Archer paused, sensing his little demon had had her fill. Antonia flopped back in his arms, catching her breath, and he pulled her close, wrapping her in a warm cuddle. ’’You know I love you, Antonia Wyldheart,’’ he murmured. ’’Thank you for bursting into my life, my little spark.’’
At his words, Antonia’s silliness lted away. She gazed up at him, her big pink eyes locking onto his, and flashed the gummiest, most heart-lting smile she could muster. A stream of happy babble spilled from her, as if she were trying to tell him just how much she loved him, too.
’’Oh my goddess!’’ Ari exclaid. ’’You two are so adorable!’’
Archer glanced at the white-haired woman and held Antonia close. ’’I’m kidnapping her now, wife. You’ll never see this gremlin again,’’ he teased, chuckling at her amused expression.
In an instant, Archer vanished into the Domain, reappearing high above the sprawling landscape as his wings unfurled. Cradling Antonia, he took flight, soaring through the crisp air. The baby’s eyes widened in wonder, her tiny face alight as she gazed at the world below, taking in every detail.
They glided toward the towering entrance of the Nightmare Ant Colony, its massive structure looming like a monunt carved from the earth itself. Archer landed just outside a massive hole with hundreds, if not thousands, of worker ants coming and going, carrying monster bodies to feed to the ever-growing hive.
When touching the ground, Vivienne’s voice echoed through the tunnel. ’’Bring my youngest daughter here, handso. I haven’t t the little angel yet.’’
He smiled at this and looked at Antonia. ’’Want to et your mana, Vivi? She’s gonna love you.’’
Following that, Archer entered the Nightmare Ant’s ho where they were greeted by a a Carrier Ant and climbed on its back, exciting the little girl even more as she took in everything around her. Creatures scuttled by, ignoring their presence thanks to Vivienne marking him as hers.
The air thrumd with their silent acknowledgnt, a quiet reverence that seed to ripple through the hive. Soon, the Carrier began its steady descent down a vast, winding tunnel. They was bathed in a soft glow from moss, its faint light weaving through layers of ancient, compacted mud, casting delicate patterns that danced in the shadows.
Archer’s breath caught as he extended his mana, scanning the surroundings, and the true size of the colony unveiled itself to him. It was a subterranean marvel, sprawling for kiloters in every direction, a network of tunnels, chambers, and hidden alcoves that pulsed with life and purpose.
The colony’s reach was boundless, halting only where it pressed against the borders of the Broodmaw’s ho, a neighboring hive controlled by Cersei. Their journey through the labyrinthine tunnels stretched on. The air grew cooler, laced with the rich scent of honeydew and dead bodies, and he felt the weight of the colony’s history enveloping them.
At last, they arrived at the heart, Vivivenne’s sanctuary, nestled deep within the sprawling underground world. Archer’s eyes widened as he took in the Ant Queen’s ho, its polished surfaces gleaming softly under the mana lights. It was both a ho and a throne that she ruled over the colony from.
Monts later, the door opened and a heavily pregnant Vivienne stepped out with a big smile, stretching across her face. ’’My love! You bring a delicate angel to et. Co here!’’ She exclaid.
Archer stepped forward as Antonia began giggling as the redheaded woman pulled silly faces at her when they got close. ’’Vivienne, et mine and Agrippina’s daughter, Antonia Wyldheart.’’
When the older woman heard this, she leaned in and scooped the little girl into her arms before pampering her with kisses, causing Antonia to burst out into laughter as she tried pushing the Ant Queen away. ’’You can’t escape ! Your nbig sister Freya tried and failed young lady!’’ She exclaid.
This only excited the baby more, making Archer smile as the powerful Pseudo God was acting silly with his youngest daughter. Antonia was loving the attention until she got fed up and reached for him. He swooped in and grabbed her as she rested her head in the crook of his neck.
’’Looks like all the excitent has exhausted her,’’ he muttered, smiling. ’’Sorry about that Vivi, mind if I co in?’’
’’Don’t worry about it, my love,’’ she waved his apologies away. ’’She’s still a little baby, I’m sure being with you for a while would tire any of the children out.’’
Following that, they entered the house and Archer was ushered toward a nearby chair, pushing him into it. He took out a bottle before feeding Antonia who greedily chugged down the milk. When the Ant Queen saw this, her red eyes glead. ’’Those things are useful, drinking too much of our milk will send mana shooting through their little bodies.’’
’’Yes that’s why I created it,’’ he revealed. ’’It’s take pressure off the won who’s given birth.’’
Vivienne happily nodded as she began making tea for them, speaking. ’’Why don’t you sell it to all the mothers of the empire? It could bring in so much gold that you’ll be swimming in it.’’
’’Maybe I will,’’ Archer responded. ’’That’s is a good idea you know.’’
His greed exploded when hearing the Ant Queens words but soon Vivienne brought him so sweet tea. He took a sip and felt the refeshing liquid pouring down his throat, reenergizing himself. ’’Oh this is nice,’’ he complented the older woman.
Monts later, Archer resud feeding Antonia, carefully cradling the bottle. The white-haired baby, her pink eyes sparkling, reached out and grasped his finger with surprising strength. Her grip sent a wave of love through him, and he couldn’t help but smile as he gazed down at her, marveling.
’’You’re so adorable my little Antonia,’’ he whispered. ’’Now eat up and I’ll take you back to your mother.’’
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